How to Get from the Cancun Airport to Playa Mujeres
Playa Mujeres is one of the newer and most popular resort areas near Cancun. Since Playa Mujeres is a newer than areas like the Hotel Zone there are less transportation options from the airport. Unlike some other destinations in the Riviera Maya and Cancun, there is no direct public bus service from the Cancun Airport to Playa Mujeres, so most visitors choose a private transfer, taxi, shared shuttle, or rental car.
If you are flying into Cancun International Airport, getting to Playa Mujeres area is relatively quick and easy. Below is a complete guide on the best ways to get from the Cancun Airport to Playa Mujeres.
Note: Do not Confuse Playa Mujeres with Isla Mujeres, Costa Mujeres, or the beach in the Hotel Zone called Playa Mujeres. Below we list the hotels in this exact area of Cancun.
Private Transfers from Cancun Airport to Playa Mujeres
The most popular option for visitors is booking a private airport transfer. These are vans that take you and those traveling with you direct to your hotel. Once you reserve, you will have a driver waiting for you at the airport. The driver helps with your luggage and takes you directly to your hotel. This is the easiest and most comfortable way to reach the Playa Mujeres area of Cancun. These transfers are the most reliable also when compared to other transportation.
How much are transfer vans from Cancun Airport to Playa Mujeres?
Prices for private car service or van service is as follows:
- $73 USD one way or $131 USD round trip from the Cancun Airport to Playa Mujeres hotels for up to 8 people. You do save 10% if you book a round trip! So, we recommend doing this!
Private transfers are popular for several reasons:
• Direct service to your hotel
• No waiting for other passengers
• Air-conditioned vehicles
• Flat rate per vehicle rather than per person
• Option to book round trip transportation with discount
Many travelers like this option because after a long flight you can go straight to your resort without stopping at other hotels.
This is the same option we recommend for travelers going south to Playa del Carmen. If you want to see how that trip works, read our full guide on how to get from the Cancun Airport to Playa del Carmen. How to get from the Cancun Airport to Playa Del Carmen
Luxury Transfers Available Also to Playa Mujeres
If you are traveling for a special occasion or just want to make your trip a little more special, there are luxury transfers available from the Cancun Airport going to the Playa Mujeres area in Cancun. Cancun luxury transportation is regularly provided with Suburbans or Similar vehicles, like Expeditions. This is for transportation of up to six people.
Prices for the luxury transfer from the Cancun Airport to the Playa Mujeres are:
- $135 USD one way or $229 USD round trip. To save money you just need to book a round trip at time of booking. Click the reserve now button below to go to the official booking website.
Shared Shuttle from Cancun Airport to Playa Mujeres
Shared airport shuttles are another option if you are traveling on a budget. These are small vans that sell individual tickets for a seat and drop people off at their hotels. These vans transport several groups of passengers who are staying at different hotels in one area. They are cheaper than private transfers but can take longer. This is the best option if you are one or two people traveling since the price of the shared shuttle is cheaper for one or two people.
How Much Are Shuttles and How to Reserve a Shared Shuttle
Shared shuttles from the Cancun Airport to Playa Mujeres area are about $55 USD per person one way or about $103 USD for a round trip.
If this transportation option looks good for you, you can click the reserve now button and go directly to the booking page. Once you put in your arrival information and hotel, they will reserve your spot and be waiting at the airport with a sign for you.
Things to consider with shared shuttles:
• You may need to wait for other passengers at the airport
• The shuttle may stop at several resorts before yours
• Travel time can increase depending on the route
Shared shuttles are often used by solo travelers or couples who want to save money.
If you want to see typical shuttle prices in the region, see our guide about shared shuttle transportation from Cancun Airport. How Much Are Shared Shuttles from the Cancun Airport?
Renting a Car at Cancun Airport
Renting a car is another option for getting to Costa Mujeres. This can be a good choice if you plan on exploring the region during your trip.
One good place to check for a rental car online is Discovery Cars. This website searches all the rentals and offers good prices on Cancun Airport rentals.
Here are our best tips for renting a car at the Cancun Airport:
- There are rental car companies inside the airport property and some just outside along the highway. If you rent from a company outside the airport you will need to take their shuttle both ways. This does add about 20 minutes to the process of pick up and drop off. For the convenience fee, we prefer the rental car companies in the airport.
- Liability insurance is required in Mexico. Your credit card company might not cover Mexico, or you might need proof of coverage. You can buy it locally when you rent. It is recommended you buy it locally because you have local agents to help you if something happens.
- In general, we prefer the larger car rental companies because they have more options, and in general a more streamlined check out and in.
The drive to the Playa Mujeres area is usually about 30–45 minutes depending on traffic.
However, if you are staying at an all-inclusive resort in Costa Mujeres and do not plan on leaving the property often, renting a car may not be necessary.
Taking a Taxi from Cancun Airport to Playa Mujeres
Taxis are available outside all terminals at Cancun International Airport. However, most people do not like to have to deal with taxis at the Cancun Airport. Taxi drivers have a bad reputation for overcharging tourists arriving at the airport. There are no set prices nor meters in the taxis at the Cancun Airport. This means you need to ask and also be prepared to negotiate or walk away from a taxi driver that is trying to charge too much.
How Much are Taxis from the Cancun Airport to Playa Mujeres?
However, taxis are usually more expensive than pre-booking a private transfer, and prices can vary depending on demand. Taxis at the airport also do not operate on meters, so the price is typically negotiated. Most of the time taxi drivers will try to charge between $70 USD to $100 USD for a one-way transfer. Of course, taxis cannot offer a round-trip discount because the same taxi will not be taking you back to the airport.
Because of this, many travelers prefer to reserve transportation ahead of time, so they know the exact price.
Can You Take Uber from Cancun Airport?
Ride share services like Uber have had limited service in the Cancun area and currently cannot reliably pick up passengers directly at Cancun Airport.
Because of local transportation regulations and conflicts with taxi unions, most travelers still rely on private transfers, taxis, or shuttles to get from the airport to their hotel.
How Far is the Playa Mujeres Area in Cancun from the Airport?
The Playa Mujeres area is located about 30 km (18 miles) north of Cancun Airport, and the drive normally takes 40–50 minutes depending on traffic. The area is known for newer all-inclusive resorts, beautiful beaches, and a quieter atmosphere compared to the Cancun Hotel Zone.
What Hotels are in the Playa Mujeres Area of Cancun?
Playa Mujeres is a newer resort zone located just north of Costa Mujeres. Most resorts here were built after about 2017, which means they tend to be larger and more modern all-inclusive resorts. Since the area is next to Costa Mujeres, it can be confusing to know exactly which area your hotel might be in. Here is a list of hotels considered to be in the Playa Mujeres
Hotels in Playa Mujeres include:
- Excellence Playa Mujeres
- Finest Playa Mujeres
- The Beloved Playa Mujeres
- Secrets Playa Mujeres Golf & Spa Resort
- Dreams Playa Mujeres Golf & Spa Resort
- Atelier Playa Mujeres
- Estudio Playa Mujeres
- Villa del Palmar Cancun Luxury Beach Resort & Spa
- Garza Blanca Resort & Spa Cancun
- Paradisus Playa Mujeres
Transportation Tips for Cancun Airport
Here are a few helpful tips when arriving at Cancun Airport:
• Book transportation in advance is important! Since transportation is limited to the Playa Mujeres area, you need to reserve BEFORE you arrive at the Cancun Airport.
• Confirm whether the price is per person or per vehicle. This is a trick that many transportation companies do, they post a low price but have a minimum of two people for that price or make the private vans look cheap by advertising per person price. All the links we have are for per person in shared shuttles and per vehicle in the private transfers.
• Ignore aggressive transportation sellers inside the terminal
• Allow about 45 minutes travel time to Playa Mujeres
Many visitors are surprised at how easy it is to travel between Cancun Airport and nearby destinations. If you are staying elsewhere in the Riviera Maya, you might also want to read our guide on ground transportation options from Cancun Airport to the Riviera Maya. Ground transportation from Cancun Airport to the Riviera Maya
Final Thoughts
Getting from the Cancun Airport to Playa Mujeres is simple and usually takes less than an hour. Most travelers choose a private transfer or shuttle, which provides direct service to their hotel and removes the stress of finding transportation after arriving. Playa Mujeres area is just one of the Cancun areas with hotels. There is also Costa Mujeres, Isla Mujeres, Downtown Cancun and the Hotel Zone in Cancun.
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